Camera lens module of a portable terminal

ABSTRACT

A camera lens module of a portable terminal includes an external case; an OIS carrier disposed in the external case; a lens system which is guided along an optical axis in the OIS carrier; an AF driving unit facing to a first surface of the external case and which enables the lens system to move; a first OIS driving unit disposed in parallel along a second surface of the external case at the other side opposite to the first surface on which the AF driving unit is disposed; and a second OIS driving unit disposed in parallel along a third surface of the external case between the first OIS driving unit and the AF driving unit.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a portable terminal, and moreparticularly to a camera lens module which is employed into a portableterminal.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, with the development of mobile communication technologies, apopularized portable terminal such as a smartphone has employed at leastone camera lens module which is miniaturized and light therein.

Particularly, with respect to a camera lens module employed to theportable terminal, users have required a high capacitance andperformance camera lens module. Accordingly, a camera lens module hasbeen developed which corresponds to a class of Digital Single LensReflex camera. Furthermore, it has become a trend that the camera lensmodule is developed toward an advantageous direction for miniaturizationand lightening with the maintenance of a high performance and a highcapacity.

The camera lens module employed to the portable terminal has anAuto-Focusing (AF) function, a zoom-in and zoom-out function, and so on,and also has a stabilizer for compensating for a hand shaking, whichmakes a camera perform its functions. The camera lens module generallyincludes a lens system, a lens driving unit for enabling the lens systemto move along an optical axis direction and making the lens systemperform focusing, and an image sensor for picking up light incidentthrough the lens system and converting the light into image signals.

Examples of the conventional camera lens module mounted on the portableterminal are disclosed in Korean Patent Application Nos. 2010-106811 and2009-83613.

However, since there is a trend that the portable terminal is graduallyminiaturized with the maintenance of the high quality, a camera lensmodule mounted on the portable terminal also is required to beminiaturized with the maintenance of the high performance and to haveimproved assemblability in consideration of the cost of products.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

The present invention has been made to solve the above mentionedproblems in the prior art, and an aspect of the present invention is toprovide a camera lens module of a portable terminal, which is capable ofminimizing an interference of a magnetic field between driving units.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a camera lensmodule of a portable terminal, in which assemblability is improved.

Still another aspect of the present invention is to provide a cameralens module of a portable terminal, which is advantageous forminiaturization.

Further still another aspect of the present invention is to provide acamera lens module of a portable terminal having enhanced active align.

Solution to Problem

A camera lens module of a portable terminal includes an external case;an OIS carrier disposed in the external case; a lens system which isguided along an optical axis in the OIS carrier; an AF driving unitfacing to a first surface of the external case and which enables thelens system to move; a first OIS driving unit disposed in parallel alonga second surface of the external case at the other side opposite to thefirst surface on which the AF driving unit is disposed; and a second OISdriving unit disposed in parallel along a third surface of the externalcase between the first OIS driving unit and the AF driving unit.

Further, a camera lens module of a portable terminal includes anexternal case; an OIS carrier disposed in the external case; a lenssystem which is guided along an optical axis in the OIS carrier; an AFdriving unit disposed in parallel along a first surface of the externalcase and which enables the lens system to move; and one or more OISdriving units and OIS position detecting units which are disposed alongsecond, third and fourth surfaces except for the first surface, whereinthe OIS driving units include a first OIS driving unit disposed alongthe second surface opposite to the first surface, and a second OISdriving unit disposed along the third surface between the first andsecond surfaces, and the OIS position detecting units include a firstOIS position detecting unit disposed together with the first OIS drivingunit along the second surface; and a second OIS position detecting unitdisposed along a fourth surface opposite to the third surface.

Further, a camera lens module of a portable terminal includes anexternal case; an OIS carrier disposed in the external case; a lenssystem which is guided along an optical axis in the OIS carrier; an AFdriving unit disposed in parallel along a first surface of the externalcase and which enables the lens system to move; and one or more OISdriving units and OIS position detecting units which are disposed onsecond, third and fourth surfaces except for the first surface, whereinthe OIS driving units include a first OIS driving unit disposed along asecond surface opposite to the first surface; and a second OIS drivingunit disposed along a third surface between the first and secondsurfaces, and the OIS position detecting units include the first OISposition detecting unit disposed together with the first OIS drivingunit along the second surface; and the second OIS position detectingunit disposed together with the second OIS driving unit along the thirdsurface.

Further, a camera lens module of a portable terminal includes anexternal case; an actuator, disposed in the external case, forcompensating hand shaking of lens or moving the lens along an opticalaxis; a sensor, coupled with the external case, for confronting with theactuator; and a device, disposed to be exposed into the outside of theexternal case and coupled with an external alignment apparatus afterassembling the camera lens module, for getting an aligning position ofthe actuator.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality ofOIS driving units and OIS position detecting units are disposed atappropriate positions. It contributes to a miniaturization of the devicefor driving the camera lens module of the portable terminal and aminiaturization of the camera lens module. Particularly, the OIS drivingunit and the OIS position detecting unit are mounted to lie down,thereby improving the assemblability.

Further, according to the embodiment of the present invention, a focaldistance between the lens and image sensor and a tilting state areactively aligned using an external 6 axis alignment apparatus afterassembling the camera lens module, and a aligning state is fixed,thereby to enhance the resolution of the image sensor due to enhancedalignment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of the presentdisclosure will be more apparent from the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plane view schematically illustrating a camera lens moduleemploying a driving device according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are exploded perspective views illustrating a structureof the camera lens module employing the driving device according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention, in which elements of thecamera lens module are sequentially arranged along an optical axis;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views illustrating the camera lens moduleemploying the driving device according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the camera lens moduleemploying the driving device according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention, in which the camera lens module is cut in alongitudinal direction;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the camera lens moduleemploying the driving device according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention, in which the camera lens module is cut in a crosswisedirection;

FIG. 7 is a plane view schematically illustrating a camera lens moduleemploying a driving device according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are perspective views illustrating the camera lens moduleemploying the driving device according to the second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 10 is a plane view schematically illustrating a camera lens moduleemploying a driving device according to a third embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the camera lens moduleemploying the driving device according to the third embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the configurationof the camera lens module according to the embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating the camera lens moduleaccording to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a one side view for FIG. 13.

FIG. 15, which is a perspective view illustrating the camera lens moduleaccording to the embodiment of the present invention, illustrates astate that removes an external case.

MODE FOR THE INVENTION

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings isprovided to help a whole understanding of embodiments of the presentinvention as defined by the claims and the equivalents of the claims.Although the description includes various specific details to help theunderstanding of the embodiment of the present invention, the detailswill be merely regarded as examples. Therefore, it will be understood bya person skilled in the art that variations and modifications of theembodiments described in the disclosure can be achieved withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Further,the description of well-known functions and structures will be omittedfor definition and simplicity.

Hereinafter, a structure of a device for driving a camera lens module 10according to a first embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

The portable terminal on which the camera lens module according to thepresent invention is mounted is merely a general term, and the presentinvention may be applied to any one of a mobile phone, a palm sizedPersonal Computer (PC), a Personal Communication System (PCS), aPersonal Digital Assistant (PDA), a Hand-held PC (HPC), a smart phone, awireless Local Area Network (LAN) terminal, a laptop computer, anetbook, a tablet PC and the like. Therefore, a term “portable terminal”should not be used to limit that the present invention is applied to aspecific type device.

In FIGS. 1 to 6, a three-dimensional coordinate of X, Y and Z is shownin which an axis of Z is a longitudinal direction of the camera lensmodule and means an optical axis along which a lens barrel 102 moves, anaxis of X means a horizontal direction (a direction which is at rightangles with the optical axis) of the camera lens module, and an axis ofY means a vertical direction (a direction which is at right angles withthe optical axis and the axis of X) of the camera lens module. AnAutomatic Focus (AF) driving unit 11 provides a force to enable a lenscarrier 103 to move along the optical axis, and Optical Image Stabilizer(OIS) driving units 12 and 13 provide forces in directions of X and Yaxes to compensate a horizontal balance (a hand shaking) around theoptical axis of an OIS carrier 104 (see FIG. 2B).

The device 10 for driving the camera lens module (hereinafter, referredto as a “module”) according to the present invention will be describedin detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. It is noted that the moduledescribed below pursues miniaturization and improved assemblability, andespecially minimization of an interference of a magnetic field.

The driving unit 10 according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention includes an external case 100 and 101 which has a polyhedralshape, a lens system 102 and 103 which is guided along an optical axisin the external case 100 and 101, an AF driving unit 11 which isdisposed in parallel with a first surface 100 a of the external case 100and 101 to enable the lens system 102 and 103 to move, an OIS carrier104 in which the lens system is disposed, and one or more OIS drivingunits 12 and 13 which are disposed on second and third surfaces 100 band 100 c respectively and compensate a balance of the lens system 102and 103. The driving unit 10 further includes OIS position detectingunits 14 and 15 which are disposed on a fourth surface 100 d.

The external case 100 and 101 has a polyhedral shape, particularly aroughly rectangular parallelepiped shape, in which upper and lowersurfaces have a regular tetragon shape and four lateral surfaces 100 a,100 b, 100 c and 100 d have an approximately rectangular shape. Asdescribed above, the external case 100 and 101 has the four lateralsurfaces 100 a, 100 b, 100 c and 100 d. Hereinafter, the four lateralsurfaces are referred to as first, second, third and fourth surfaces 100a, 100 b, 100 c and 100 d, respectively.

In the external case, a surface opposite to the first surface 100 a isreferred to as the second surface 100 b, another surface between thefirst and second surfaces 100 a and 100 b is referred to as the thirdsurface 100 c, and still another surface opposite to the third surface100 c is referred to as the fourth surface 100 d. The first, second,third and fourth surfaces 100 a, 100 b, 100 c and 100 d areperpendicular to one another.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the OIS carrier 104 has first, second andthird openings 1041, 1042 and 1043 formed on second, third and fourthsurfaces 104 b, 104 c and 104 d which face to the second, third andfourth surfaces 100 b, 100 c and 100 d of the external case,respectively, in which first and second OIS driving units 12 and 13 andfirst and second OIS position detecting units 14 and 15, describedlater, are disposed. The first, second and third openings 1041, 1042 and1043 are formed at lower portions (bottoms) of the second, third andfourth surfaces 104 b, 104 c and 104 d, respectively. In addition, thefirst, second and third openings 1041, 1042 and 1043 have an oblongshape which is elongated in one direction, and in which the first andsecond OIS driving units 12 and 13, and the first and second OISposition detecting units 14 and 15 are disposed respectively.

Further, the OIS carrier has an opening 1040 formed on a first surfacethereof. The opening 1040 is formed in order that an AF magnet mountedon a lens barrel which is described later directly faces to an AF coiland an AF position detecting unit in an AF driving unit, and in whichthe AF coil and the AF position detecting unit are disposed.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B again, the external case 100 and 101 ismade of a non-magnetic material, and functions as a housing whichreceives other parts and protects the received parts from an exterior.Two circuit boards 106 and 109 extend from the external case 100 and 101and are in electrical contact with an external electric power source(not shown). One circuit board 106 extends from an OIS circuit board,and the other circuit board 109 is an image sensor circuit board 108.The external case is constituted of a combination an upper case 100 anda sensor base 101.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, there is nonecessity to limit the external case 100 and 101 to the rectangularparallelepiped shape. The external case 100 and 101 may be configured tohave a regular hexahedral shape according to a mounting arrangement ofinternal parts and also may have a polyhedral shape with a pentagonal orhexagonal cross-section. A reference numeral 109 denotes an end portionof the image sensor board.

The lens system includes the lens barrel 102 having a lens (not shown)and the lens carrier 103 which receives the lens barrel 102 therein andmoves together with the lens barrel 102 along the optical axis. The lensbarrel 102 has a cylinder shape, and is moved along the optical axis bymeans of the AF driving unit 11 in a state of being fully received inthe lens carrier 103, so as to focus the lens. The lens carrier 103fully receives the lens barrel 102 therein, and has a magnet mountinggroove (not shown) of a rectangular shape on an outer peripheral surfacethereof. The lens carrier 103 is guided by means of a pair of guidedevices along the optical axis. The pair of guide devices includeswell-known guide units g1 and g2, and ball bearings b1 and b2 which arereceived in the guide units g1 and g2 to carry out a rolling operation.The lens barrel 102 may be detachably coupled to the lens carrier 103,or constituted of a one-piece structure.

In the present invention, a single AF driving unit is described as anexample of the AF driving unit. Further, with respect to the OIS drivingunits 12 and 13, it is described as an example that two OIS drivingunits are disposed on the second and third surfaces of the external casearound the optical axis, respectively, except for the first surface ofthe external case on which the AF driving unit 11. However, it ispossible to dispose two or more OIS driving units.

Hereinafter, a structure of the first and second OIS driving units 12and 13 will be described in detail. The OIS carrier 104 is supported byan OIS base 107 which is positioned at a bottom thereof. The first andsecond OIS driving units 12 and 13 are disposed between an OIS base andthe second and third surfaces 104 b and 104 c of the OIS carrier 104which faces to the second and third surfaces of the external caserespectively, so as to compensate for a hand shaking of the OIS carrier104. The OIS driving unit includes a first OIS driving unit 12 disposedalong the second surface 104 b opposite to the first surface of thefirst surface 104 a of the OIS carrier, and a second OIS driving unit 13disposed along the third surface 104 c present between the first andsecond surfaces 104 a and 104 b of the OIS carrier. Further, the OISposition detecting unit includes first and second OIS position detectingunits 14 and 15 arranged in parallel along the fourth surface 104 dopposite to the third surface 104 c of the OIS carrier. The AF drivingunit 11 and the first OIS driving unit 12 are disposed to face to eachother, and the second OIS driving unit 13 and the first and second OISposition detecting units 14 and 15 are disposed to face to each other.

The first OIS driving unit 12 has an oblong shape extending in adirection, and is disposed in parallel along the second surface 104 b.The second OIS driving unit 13 also has an oblong shape extending in adirection, and is disposed in parallel along the third surface 104 c.The first and second OIS position detecting units 14 and 15 are arrangedto face to each other. The first and second OIS position detecting unitsare disposed in parallel along the fourth surface.

The AF driving unit 11 is mounted to be upright between the lens carrier103 and the OIS carrier 104, and the first and second OIS driving units12 and 13 are mounted between the OIS base 107 and the second and thirdsurfaces 104 b and 104 c of the OIS carrier 104 while lying down at alower portion of the OIS carrier 104. The first and second OIS positiondetecting units 14 and 15 are mounted between the OIS base 107 and thefourth surface 104 d of the OIS carrier while lying down at the lowerportion of the OIS carrier 104.

The first OIS driving unit 12 includes a first OIS magnet m2 disposed inparallel along the second surface 104 b of the OIS carrier while lyingdown, and a first OIS coil c2 disposed on the OIS base 107 and facing tothe first OIS magnet m2. Further, the second OIS driving unit 13includes a second OIS magnet m3 disposed in parallel along the secondsurface 104 c of the OIS carrier while lying down, and a second OIS coilc2 disposed on the OIS base 107 and facing to the second OIS magnet m3.

A phrase “while lying down” means that the first and second magnets m2and m3 with an oblong shape are disposed so that upper and lowersurfaces (surfaces with the largest area) are in parallel with an X andY plane. In addition, it is meant by that the first and second OIS coilsc2 and c3 with an approximately oblong plate shape have the upper andlower surfaces arranged in parallel with the X and Y plane. In addition,it is meant that the first and second position detecting units 14 and 15with an approximately oblong plate shape have the upper and lowersurfaces arranged in parallel with the X and Y plane. If the magnets orcoils are mounted while lying down rather than being upright, theassemblability of the module can be improved.

The first OIS position detecting unit 14 includes a first OIS positiondetecting magnet m4-1 disposed in parallel along the fourth surface 104d of the OIS carrier, and a first OIS position detecting sensor h2disposed on the OIS base 107 and facing to the first OIS positiondetecting magnet m4-1. The second OIS position detecting unit 15includes a second OIS position detecting magnet m4-2 disposed inparallel along the fourth surface 104 d of the OIS carrier, and a secondOIS position detecting sensor h3 disposed on the OIS base 107 to face tothe second OIS position detecting magnet m4-2. The first and second OISposition detecting sensors h2 and h3 include Hall sensors respectively.Since the first OIS position detecting magnet m4-1 and the second OISposition detecting magnet m4-2 are arranged so that magnetizeddirections are perpendicular to each other, it is possible to detect amovement of the OIS carrier in the direction of axes of X and Y.

The AF driving unit 11 is a driving unit which is interposed between onesurface 100 a of the external case and one side of the lens carrier 103which face to each other, and enables the lens carrier 103 move along anoptical axis. The AF driving unit includes an AF magnet m1 which ismounted on the outer peripheral surface of the lens carrier 103 inparallel with the one surface of the case, an AF coil c1 which isdisposed on the one surface of the external case to face to the AFmagnet m1, an AF positioning sensor which is disposed in an opening ofthe AF coil c1, an AF driving IC which is disposed beside the AF coilc1, and an AF yoke y which is disposed to face to and support the AFcoil c1. When electric current is applied to the AF coil c1, anelectromagnetic force generated between the AF coil c1 and the AF magnetm1 makes the lens barrel 103 move along the optical axis so that a focaldistance of the lens (not shown) can be automatically adjusted. The AFpositioning sensor includes a Hall sensor, and may be integrated withthe driving IC.

That is, the AF driving unit 11 according to the present invention makesthe lens carrier 103 move along the optical axis independently from theOIS carrier 104 because the AF coil c1 or the AF magnet m1 is exposedthrough the opening on the one surface OIS carrier 104 to face to theone surface of the external case 100 and 101 while the AF coil c1 or theAF magnet m1 is mounted on the one surface of the external case 100 and101 to face to the AF coil c1 or the AF magnet m1. Therefore, the moduleaccording to the present invention is capable of performing an AFdriving and an OIS driving with a minimum size and a minimum drivingforce.

The AF driving unit 11 further includes an AF circuit board 105 disposedat an upper end of the OIS carrier 104, and the first and second OISdriving units 12 and 13 include an OIS circuit board 106 disposed on theOIS base 16. The AF circuit board 105 and the OIS circuit board 106 areflexible circuit boards. The AF circuit board 105 and the OIS circuitboard 106 are disposed in parallel at an upper end and a lower end ofthe OIS carrier 104 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis,and are opposed to each other. The AF circuit board 105 and the OIScircuit board 106 generally have a regular tetragonal shape, and fourcorners, respectively. The AF circuit board 105 and the OIS circuitboard 106 have suspension wires as described later, which are fixed tothe four corners, respectively.

The AF circuit board 105 and the OIS circuit board 106 are electricallyconnected by means of at least one suspension wire w. That is, thesuspension wire w performs a function of electrically connecting the AFflexible circuit board 105 with the OIS flexible circuit board 106, andsupports the AF flexible circuit board 105 and the OIS flexible circuitboard 106. Of course, the suspension wire w is a conductor withelasticity and is a linear type. Four suspension wires w are used, andare disposed to be upright at the four corner regions of the OIScarrier, respectively. Each suspension wire w extends along the opticalaxis and has one end thereof fixed to the AF flexible circuit board 105and the other end thereof fixed to the OIS flexible circuit board 106.To do this, the AF flexible circuit board 105 has soldering openingsformed at the four corners thereof respectively, and the OIS flexiblecircuit board 106 has soldering openings formed at the four cornersthereof respectively. Further, the OIS carrier 104 has structures at thefour corner regions on the upper end thereof, through each of which thesuspension wire w extends.

Preferably, the OIS circuit board 106 is disposed between the OIScarrier 104 and the OIS base 107.

In FIG. 2B, a reference character ‘f’ denotes an ‘IR filter’, and areference character ‘s’ refers to an ‘image sensor’.

On the other hand, the first OIS magnet m2 and the first OIS coil c2which constitute the first OIS driving unit may be changed in theirarrangement positions, and the second OIS magnet m3 and the second OIScoil c3 which constitute the second OIS driving unit may be changed intheir arrangement positions. In other words, the first and second OISmagnets m2 and m3 are disposed on the OIS base 111, and the first andsecond OIS coils c2 and c3 are positioned in the first and secondopenings 1041 and 1042 of the OIS carrier, respectively.

In the present invention, moreover, the four suspension wires areemployed in order to connect the AF flexible circuit board 105 with theOIS flexible circuit board 106. However, it is possible to electricallyconnect the AF flexible circuit board with the OIS flexible circuitboard by using a separate flexible circuit board instead of thesuspension wires.

Further, the AF magnet and the AF coil which constitute the AF drivingunit of the module may be replaced with a piezoelectric element.

Hereinafter, a device 20 for driving a camera lens module according to asecond embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 7 isa plane view schematically illustrating the camera lens module employingthe driving device according to the second embodiment of the presentinvention. FIGS. 8 and 9 are perspective views illustrating the cameralens module employing the driving device according to the secondembodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 7 to 9, with thedescription of the driving device 20 according to the second embodimentof the present invention, the driving device 20 has the same structureas that of the driving device 10 except for the first and second OISdriving units 22 and 23, and the first and second OIS position detectingunits 24 and 25, in comparison to the driving device 10. Accordingly,only the structure of the first and second OIS driving units 22 and 23and the first and second position detecting units 24 and 25 will bedescribed in order to avoid duplicating the description of otherelements.

The driving unit according to the second embodiment of the presentinvention includes an external case 200 which has a polyhedral shape, alens system 202 and 203 which is guided along an optical axis in theexternal case 200, an AF driving unit 21 which is disposed in parallelwith a first surface 200 a of the external case 200 to enable the lenssystem 202 and 203 to move, an OIS carrier 204 which receives the lenssystem 202 and 203, and one or more OIS driving units 22 and 23 and OISposition detecting units 24 and 25 which are disposed on second, thirdand fourth surfaces respectively, except for the first surface 200 a andcompensate a balance of the lens system with a resultant force thereof.Further, the OIS driving unit includes the first OIS driving unit 22disposed along the second surface 200 b opposite to the first surface200 a, and the second OIS driving unit 23 disposed along the thirdsurface 200 c interposed between the first and second surfaces 200 a and200 b. Further, the OIS position detecting unit includes the first OISposition detecting unit 24 disposed along with the first OIS drivingunit 22 on the second surface 200 b, and the second OIS positiondetecting unit 25 disposed along the fourth surface 200 d opposite tothe third surface 200 c.

The AF driving unit 21 faces to the first OIS driving unit 22 and theOIS position detecting unit 24, and the second OIS driving unit 23 facesto the second OIS position detecting unit 25. Preferably, the OISposition detecting unit 24 is disposed to be spaced apart from thesecond OIS position detecting unit 25, and more preferably disposed at aleft side of the first OIS driving unit 22 (see FIG. 7).

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the OIS carrier 204 is supported by the OISbase 207 positioned on a bottom of the OIS carrier 204.

The AF driving unit 21 is mounted to be upright along the first surface200 a, and the first OIS driving unit 22 and the first OIS positiondetecting unit 24 are mounted to lie down on a lower portion of the OIScarrier 204 along the second surface 200 b. The second OIS driving unit23 is mounted to lie down at the lower portion of the OIS carrier 204along the third surface 200 c, and the second OIS position detectingunit 25 is mounted to lie down at the lower portion of the OIS carrier204 along the fourth surface 200 d.

Particularly, the first OIS driving unit 22 includes a first OIS magnet220 disposed in parallel along the second surface 204 b of the OIScarrier opposite to the second surface 200 b, and a first OIS coil 222disposed on the OIS base 207 and facing to the first OIS magnet 220. Thesecond OIS driving unit 23 includes a second OIS magnet 230 disposed inparallel along the third surface 204 b of the OIS carrier opposite tothe third surface 200 c, and a second OIS coil 232 disposed on the OISbase 207 and facing to the second OIS magnet 230.

The first OIS position detecting unit 24 includes a first OIS positiondetecting sensor 240 disposed on the OIS base 207 and facing to andpartially sharing the first OIS magnet 220. The second OIS positiondetecting unit 25 includes a second OIS position detecting magnet 250disposed in parallel along the fourth surface 204 d of the OIS carrier,and a second OIS position detecting sensor 252 disposed on the OIS base207 to face to the second OIS position detecting magnet 250.

Preferably, the first and second OIS position detecting magnets 220 and230 have different lengths, and the first OIS position detecting magnet220 has a longer length than that of the second OIS position detectingmagnet 230. This is because of sharing a part of the first OIS magnet220.

Preferably, the first OIS driving unit 22 and the first OIS positiondetecting unit 24 are not disposed at a center portion of the secondsurface 204 b, but the second OIS driving unit 23 and the second OISposition detecting unit 25 are disposed at center portions of the thirdand fourth surfaces 204 c and 204 d, respectively.

At this time, the OIS carrier 204 has first, second and third openings2041, 2042 and 2043 formed at lower portions of the second, third andfourth surfaces 204 b, 204 c and 204 d, respectively, in which the firstOIS driving unit 22 and the first OIS position detecting unit 24 aremounted and the second OIS driving unit 23 and the second OIS positiondetecting unit 25 are mounted. The respective first, second and thirdopenings 2041, 2042 and 2043 have an oblong shape extending in adirection.

On the other hand, in the driving device 20, the OIS coil and the OISmagnet may be changed with each other in an arrangement position.

Hereinafter, a device 30 for driving a camera lens module according to athird embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 10 isa plane view schematically illustrating a camera lens module employing adriving device 30 according to the third embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 11 is a plane view schematically illustrating the camera lensmodule employing the driving device 30 according to the third embodimentof the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 10 to 11, with thedescription of the driving device 30 according to the third embodimentof the present invention, the driving device 30 has the same structureas that of the driving device 10 except for first and second OIS drivingunits 32 and 33, and first and second OIS position detecting units 34and 35, in comparison with the driving device 10 shown in FIG. 1.Accordingly, only the structure of the first and second OIS drivingunits 32 and 33 and the first and second OIS position detecting units 34and 35 will be described in order to avoid duplicating the descriptionof other elements.

The device 30 for driving the camera lens module according to the thirdembodiment of the present invention includes an external case 300 whichhas a polyhedral shape, a lens system 302 and 303 which is guided alongan optical axis in the external case 300, an AF driving unit 31 which isdisposed in parallel with a first surface 300 a of the external case toenable the lens system 302 and 303 to move, an OIS carrier 304 whichreceives the lens system 302 and 303, and one or more OIS driving units32 and 33 and OIS position detecting units 34 and 35 which are disposedon second, third and fourth surfaces respectively, except for the firstsurface 300 a and compensate a balance of the lens system 302 and 303with a resultant force thereof.

The OIS driving unit includes the first OIS driving unit 32 disposedalong the second surface 300 b opposite to the first surface 300 a, andthe second OIS driving unit 33 disposed along the third surface 300 cinterposed between the first and second surfaces 300 a and 300 b. TheOIS position detecting unit includes the first OIS position detectingunit 34 disposed together with the first OIS driving unit 31 along thesecond surface 300 b, and a second OIS position detecting unit 35disposed together with the second OIS driving unit 32 along the thirdsurface 300 c.

The AF driving unit 31 is mounted to be upright along the first surface300 a in the external case, and the first OIS driving unit 32 and thefirst OIS position detecting unit 34 are mounted to lie down at a lowerportion of the second surface 304 b along a second surface 304 b of theOIS carrier opposite to the second surface 300 b. The second OIS drivingunit 33 and the second OIS position detecting unit 35 are mounted to liedown at a lower portion of the third surface 304 c along a third surface304 c of the OIS carrier opposite to the third surface 300 c.

Particularly, the first OIS driving unit 32 includes a first OIS magnet320 disposed in parallel along the second surface 304 b of the OIScarrier while lying down, and a first OIS coil 322 disposed on the OISbase 307 and facing to the first OIS magnet 320. The second OIS drivingunit 33 includes a second OIS magnet 330 disposed in parallel along thethird surface 304 c of the OIS carrier while lying down, and a secondOIS coil 332 disposed on the OIS base 307 and facing to the second OISmagnet 330.

The first OIS position detecting unit 34 includes a first OIS positiondetecting sensor 342 disposed on the OIS base 307 and facing to andpartially sharing the first OIS magnet 320. The second OIS positiondetecting unit 35 includes a second OIS position detecting sensor 352disposed on the OIS base 307 and facing to and partially sharing thefirst OIS magnet 330.

Preferably, the first and second OIS magnets 320 and 330 have the samelength, and a part of each of the first and second OIS magnets 320 and330 is used as a magnet of the first and second OIS position detectingunits 34 and 35.

The first OIS driving unit 32 and the first OIS position detecting unit34 are not disposed at a center portion of the second surface 304 b, andalso the second OIS driving unit 33 and the second OIS positiondetecting unit 35 are not disposed at a center portion of the thirdsurface 304 c. This is because of sharing a part of the first and secondOIS magnets.

The OIS carrier 304 has the first, second and third surfaces, in whichthe first surface (not shown) means a surface facing to the firstsurface 300 a of the external case, the second surface 304 b means asurface facing to the second surface 300 b of the external case, and thethird surface 304 c means a surface facing to the third surface 300 c ofthe external case.

The OIS carrier 304 has first and second openings 3041 and 3042 formedat lower portions (bottoms) of the second and third surfaces 304 b and304 c respectively, in which the first OIS driving unit 32 and the firstOIS position detecting unit 34, and the second OIS driving unit 33 andthe second OIS position detecting unit 35 are mounted respectively. Thefirst and second openings 3041 and 3042 have an oblong shape extendingin a direction.

As above, the configuration of the camera lens module employing adriving device according to various embodiments was described.Hereinafter, the embodiment of the present invention for enhancingactive align of the camera lens on assembling the camera lens modulewill be described.

The active align mentioned above means the alignment for a focaldistance between the lens and image sensor and a tilting state on 6 axesin a small camera lens module employed into the portable terminal.Particularly, it means 6 axes alignment for the actuator afterassembling the camera lens module.

The embodiment for enhancing the alignment on assembling the camera lensmodule 40 according to the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 12 to FIG. 15. The difference between the camera lensmodules shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 12 to FIG. 15 is only described oncomparing with the camera lens module shown in FIG. 1 and thedescription for the same configuration is omitted for avoiding theduplicated description.

The alignment adjusts a focal distance between the lens and image sensorand a tilting. The alignment aligns the camera lens module 40 using anadjusting apparatus having 6 axes (not shown) outside. To this end, thepresent invention implements an aligning state between the lens andimage sensor by getting an aligning position of an actuator 42 to beassembled.

The camera lens module 40 of the present invention includes an externalcase 41, an actuator 42, and a sensor 43. The external case 41, theactuator 42, and the sensor 43 are coupled along the optical axis. Theexternal case 41 and sensor 43 provides an appearance of the camera lensmodule 40. An internal space formed by the external case 41 and sensor43 is disposed with the actuator 42. Further, a bottom surface of theactuator 42 is confronted with the sensor 43, and, in more detail, thelens (not shown) disposed in the actuator 42 is confronted with an imagesensor S. The lens not shown moves along the optical axis by powerprovided from the actuator 42 and therefore the focal distance of thelens is adjusted.

The actuator 42 is coupled along the optical axis in the external case41, provides the power moving the lens along the optical axis, orprovides the power adjusting the tilting state of the lens. The poweradjusting the focus of the lens along the optical axis is provided bythe AF driving unit, and the power adjusting the tilting of the lensalong the optical axis is provided by the OIS driving unit. The actuator42 includes an OIS carrier, a lens system, an AF driving unit, and anOIS driving unit, the detailed description is omitted becauseconfigurations such as the OIS carrier, the lens system, the AF drivingunit and the OIS driving unit are the same as them of the embodimentdescribed already. However, the OIS carrier includes a holding section420 to be described later and therefore the holding section 420 only isdescribed.

The sensor 43 includes a sensor base 430, and an image sensor S disposedon the sensor base 430. A peripheral unit 431 of the sensor 43 is formedalong the circumference of the image sensor S. The image sensor S isconnected to external electrical power by a flexible circuit board 432.The sensor base 430 has four corners, and at least one elastic body tobe described later is disposed at two corners.

The alignment of the camera lens module 40 according to the presentinvention is applied at assembling processes. That is, the alignment ofthe camera lens module 40 is applied to check and adjust the aligningstate of the actuator 42 prior to a final product after assembling theexternal case 41, the actuator 42 and sensor 43.

After assembling the camera lens module 40, a apparatus for 6 axis (±X,±Y, ±Z) alignment of the assembled actuator 42 includes a aperture 411disposed in the external case, and a holding section 420, disposed inthe aperture 411, to be exposed into the outside. The apparatus (6 axisadjusting apparatus including a picker) for 6 axis alignment not shownis coupled with the holding section 420, fixs the aligned state afteraligning the actuator 42, and completes the alignment of the camera lensmodule 40.

The aperture 411 is formed at one side surface of the external case 41,and 4 side surfaces, except a top surface 410 a, of 5 external surfacesoutside the external case 41 are called first, second, third and fourthside surfaces 401 b-410 e. Preferably, the first side surface 410 b, notdisposed with the AF driving unit and OIS driving unit in the actuator42, of first, second, third and fourth side surfaces 401 b-410 e isformed with the aperture 411. The aperture 411 may be configured in apolygonal shape. FIG. 12 shows a rectangular aperture. The aperture 411is formed to expose the holding section 420 into the outside.

A coupling aperture 412 is further included below the aperture 411. Thecoupling aperture 412 is coupled with a projection disposed in thesensor 43, and therefore the external case 41 is coupled with the sensor43.

The holding section 420 is disposed integrally with the OIS carrier. TheOIS carrier has a plate shape of metal material and the holding section420 is extensively protruded from the OIS carrier, is formed to bebended in a vertical direction, and is configured in a vertical wallshape. On the other hand, when the OIS carrier is an injection product,not the metal material, the holding section 420 may be injectedintegrally with the OIS carrier. The holding section 420 is disposed ina vertical direction (optical axis direction) from the OIS carrier andis automatically accommodated or inserted into the aperture 411 when theexternal case 41, the actuator 42, and sensor 43 are coupled in theoptical axis direction. Such a state is shown in FIG. 13.

The holding section 420 includes at least one coupling hole 421 tocouple with the external 6 axes alignment apparatus not shown. Thecoupling holes 421 are configured by a pair of one

As already described, the circumference 431 of the top surface of thesensor 43 is disposed with a plurality of elastic bodies 44. The elasticbodies 44 are disposed between the actuator 42 and sensor 43, and inmore detail, are disposed between the bottom surface of the OIS carrierand the top surface of the sensor 43. In particular, the elastic bodies44 are disposed at the corner of circumference of the top surface of thesensor, and disposed at both sides at which the aperture 411 and theholding section 420 are present, respectively.

Each of the elastic bodies 44 are mounted to be confronted at bothcorners, and are symmetrically disposed. Thus, the elastic bodies 44 areconfronted from each other as a pair of two, and are symmetricallydisposed.

Particularly, each of a pair of one at both sides on the holding section420 basis is disposed at both corners, respectively. Each of the elasticbodies 44, which are leaf springs including a fixing end and a free end,are tightly disposed at the bottom surface of the OIS carrier, whereinthe fixing ends are fixed at the corner of circumference of the topsurface of the sensor 43 by a coupling structure (coupling between theprojection and hole) and the free ends are extended from the fixing end.An elastic force is provided to each of the elastic bodies 44 in thedirection away from the top surface of the sensor 43. The elastic bodies44 are tightly supported at the bottom surface of the OIS carrier andtherefore support the actuator 42.

Each of the fixing ends are fixed at the corner of a substrate 430 ofthe sensor, and each of the free ends are tightened at the bottomsurface of the holding section 420.

The alignment of the actuator 42 may be minutely adjusted by the elasticbodies 44 on assembling the camera lens module 40. After the camera lensmodule 40 is assembled and it checks that the actuator 42 is accuratelyaligned, the alignment of the actuator 42 should be adjusted. When aplace disposing the elastic bodies 44 is applied as viscosity material,the movement amounts of the elastic bodies 44 are reduced due to theviscosity and therefore the alignment apparatus not shown is minutelyaligned. It is preferable that such a viscosity material is cured aftersome time has lapsed. For example, UV curable material may be used asthe viscosity material. The alignment state of the actuator 42 is curedand fixed by the viscosity material.

Therefore, the present invention enhances the active align of the cameralens module by aligning the actuator after assembling the camera lensmodule.

Although the present invention is shown and described with reference tothe specific embodiments, it will be understood by a person skilled inthe art that the details and forms of the present invention may bemodified in various forms without departing from the spirit and thescope of the present invention as defined by the attached claims and theequivalents thereof.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A camera lens module of a portableterminal, comprising: an external case; an Optical Image Stabilizer(OIS) carrier disposed in the external case; a lens system which isguided along an optical axis in the OIS carrier; an Automatic Focus (AF)driving unit facing to a first surface of the external case and whichenables the lens system to move; a first OIS driving unit disposed inparallel along a second surface of the external case at the other sideopposite to the first surface on which the AF driving unit is disposed;a second OIS driving unit disposed in parallel along a third surface ofthe external case between the first OIS driving unit and the AF drivingunit; and first and second OIS position detecting units disposed inparallel along a fourth surface opposite to the third surface of theexternal case.
 2. The camera lens module as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe first OIS driving unit has an oblong shape extending in a directionand is mounted to lie down along a lower portion of the second surface,and the second OIS driving unit has an oblong shape extending in adirection and is mounted to lie down along the lower portion of thethird surface.
 3. The camera lens module as claimed in claim 2, whereinthe OIS carrier is supported by an OIS base at the bottom thereof, thefirst OIS driving unit includes a first OIS magnet disposed to lie downalong a second surface of the OIS carrier opposite to the secondsurface; and a first OIS coil disposed on the OIS base and facing to thefirst OIS magnet along the optical axis, and the second OIS driving unitincludes a second OIS magnet disposed to lie down along a third surfaceof the OIS carrier opposite to the third surface; and a second OIS coildisposed on the OIS base and facing to the first OIS magnet along theoptical axis.
 4. The camera lens module as claimed in claim 3, whereinthe first OIS position detecting unit includes a first OIS positiondetecting magnet disposed to lie down along a fourth surface of the OIScarrier opposite to the fourth surface; and a first OIS positiondetecting sensor disposed on the OIS base and facing to the first OISposition detecting magnet along the optical axis, and the second OISposition detecting unit includes a second OIS position detecting magnetdisposed to lie down along a fourth surface of the OIS carrier oppositeto the fourth surface; and a second OIS position detecting sensordisposed on the OIS base and facing to the second OIS position detectingmagnet along the optical axis.
 5. The camera lens module as claimed inclaim 4, further comprising an AF flexible circuit board which isdisposed in parallel on an upper end of the OIS carrier; an OIS flexiblecircuit board which is disposed on the OIS base in parallel with the AFflexible circuit board; and at least one suspension wires electricallyconnecting and supporting the AF flexible circuit board and the OISflexible circuit board wherein each of the suspension wires are disposedto be upright along an optical axis at each corner of the OIS carrier,and each of which has an upper end fixed to the AF flexible circuitboard and a lower end fixed to the OIS flexible circuit board.